Literary Love

Warm drink for a cold season It's wintertime here in New York. With temps at or below freezing most days, my hands are perpetually cold. I don't want to hold an iced drink and I want to drink one even less. When I'm relaxing after a long day, I want a hot drink that will warm me all over. Hot toddy fits the bill.

A little bit of history  If you think the hot toddy is an old-fashioned drink, you'd be right. While no one seems to know exactly when and where it was first created, the hot toddy is rumored to have origins in 1700 Scotland, where pubs in Edinburgh diluted whiskey with hot water and honey to cure colds. Others claim it was created by Irish doctor Robert Bently Todd to ward off illness. Still others claim the hot toddy dates back to India during the 1600s. Wherever it came from, it certainly has a long history.

Is a Hot Toddy medicinal?  There is no cure for the common cold, but the mixture of honey, lemon and a shot of bourbon has been known to offer some re…

Deck the Halls for Happy HolidaysWhether you opt for fresh-cut or fresh out of the box, trimming the tree is a staple of holiday decor in most homes. However, if you'll be entertaining this season, you may want to go beyond the tree and take your seasonal decorating to whole new level.Create a scene filled with festive joy and get your home holiday-ready with these tips from the holiday hosting experts at Macy's:Choose a theme: Designing around a specific theme is a simple way to keep your holiday decor from feeling cluttered. Your theme might be based on color or a favorite seasonal character like Santa or snowmen. If you're starting from scratch, begin with a few statement pieces and let your collection grow over time. Choose a new item or two each year, and soon you'll have a treasure trove of beloved holiday items that can brighten up your home.Cook up some fun: Whipping up dinner for a house full of guests won't feel like such a chore if you rely on cookware t…

An unique book signing event for those in or near Valdosta, GA.The Written Escape Bookfest is November 3.When authors, readers, & talents connect, something festive happens that only the imagination can create.

This is not a normal book signing, this is an escape!

Nov. 3, 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Find out more at www.writtenescapebookfest.com

4 Ways to Fall in Love with FallAutumn activities for you and your pup(Family Features) The leaves may be changing, but that doesn’t mean the end of outdoor fun. Fall is a wonderful time for you and your dog to get out of the house and enjoy the season.Add these activities to your autumn schedule to make the most of cozy sweater weather with your furry friend.
Photo courtesy of FotoliaVisit a Pumpkin Patch – Spend a fall afternoon at a pumpkin patch searching for the perfect pumpkin to decorate your home for the season or carve up for Halloween. For some extra “likes” from your social following, snap an adorable fall photo with your pup and your pumpkin. If you don’t have a pumpkin patch nearby, try visiting a local apple orchard then bake your picks into a fresh apple pie.
Photo courtesy of FotoliaBrowse Your Local Farmer’s Market – Spend a leisurely weekend strolling your local farmer’s market or fall harvest festival. You can walk your dog as you spy and try delicious seasonal prod…

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
If you’re like me, and most of the world, somewhere around the first of January, you made New Year’s resolutions, and set a few goals. Maybe yours was to get into shape, travel or get that promotion you always wanted. This year, I want to write my next novel and another immediately after that. Anyone serious about reaching a goal needs to have a strategy—because ideas without a plan of action are merely wishful thinking.
I had a plan, had it all mapped out, and revved up and ready to roll, I sat down to write. I wrote a few paragraphs, but suddenly I had no interest in telling the story I’d started.  The next day I sat down to try a new story, but my protagonist, suitcase in hand, waved goodbye and sped off to the airport. 
After a couple of weeks, I’d written nothing compelling. I literally felt empty, like I had nothing interesting or meaningful to share. Stressed and depressed, I started to throw darts at the whole idea of a writi…

Modern romance Local author pens love stories that resonate with contemporary readers By Vanessa Graniello

Suzanne McKenna Link is the indie author of “Saving Toby” and its sequel, “Keeping Claudia.” A Sayville resident and native of the South Shore, McKenna Link puts a modern edge on the clichés of the old-fashioned Romance novel. She skillfully fuses the high drama of the Brontës while navigating the complexities of modern love: the fine line between love and lust; choosing between the independence of pursuing career and the sacrifices of a relationship; and grappling with society’s expectations of marriage, just to name a few. Not to mention, McKenna Link’s characters are so authentic that their behavior has often thrown readers and reviewers alike into frenzied, impassioned debates. McKenna Link spoke with The Suffolk County News about her writing process and how she puts an original spin on timeworn romantic tropes.

Suffolk County News: What first inspired you to tell Toby and Cla…